"The elections are recognized as valid. Irina Vlah, who gained 51.11% (32,543 votes), is elected as Gagauzia’s head," the chairman of the Central Election Commission, Valentin Kara, said.

Vlah calls for closer ties with Moscow and the Eurasian vector of development. She is widely supported by the Socialist Party of Moldova, which has the largest faction in the country’s parliament.

Until the elections, Vlah, 41, was a deputy of the Moldovan parliament. Under Moldova’s law, the head of Gagauzia will become the member of the country’s government.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday the outcome of the elections in Gagauzia create a solid basis for the further development of relations with Moscow.

"The results of the elections in Gagauzia prove that a significant number of the citizens of the autonomous region voted for developing the traditionally close relations with the Russian Federation," the ministry said.